Business Analyst Lead

Business Analyst Lead

London or Darlington, with hybrid working arrangements.

About the role

At Railpen, we’re committed to securing our members’ futures and delivering long-term value through effective change, innovation and continuous improvement. As Business Analyst Lead, you’ll own and develop the Business Analysis capability across Change & Transformation (C&T), while championing the profession and its value across the wider organisation.

This is a people leadership and professional capability role rather than a direct delivery position. You’ll create the conditions for Business Analysts to perform at their best through clear leadership, coaching, consistent professional standards and meaningful development opportunities. While you won’t hold direct accountability for delivering business analysis, you’ll provide guidance and constructive challenge on complex analysis activities to improve the quality, clarity and value of outputs.

Working closely with Portfolio Managers, Project Managers, Business Architecture, PMO and Resource Planning colleagues, you’ll help create the conditions for successful delivery across the change portfolio through strong capability, consistency and professional development. As a visible leader within C&T, you’ll actively contribute to team anchor days, capability forums, coaching activities, workshops and other in-person events that strengthen collaboration, professional development and community.

To learn more about Railpen including our values, culture and purpose, visit our careers page  here .

What you’ll be doing

- Line-managing and developing Business Analysts, supporting their performance, wellbeing and career progression.
- Owning and continuously improving the Business Analysis capability, including professional standards, methodologies, frameworks, role expectations, development pathways, AI-enabled practices and ways of working.
- Building and leading a thriving Business Analysis community that strengthens professional identity and promotes consistency, collaboration, knowledge sharing and continuous development.
- Working with matrix managers, Portfolio Managers, Project Managers and Resource Planning colleagues to support effective deployment, utilisation, performance feedback and development of Business Analyst resource.
- Providing people-leadership input into resourcing decisions and using performance trends, feedback and delivery insights to identify capability gaps and development priorities.
- Coaching Business Analysts through complex analysis challenges and providing constructive challenge to improve the quality, clarity, consistency and value of outputs.
- Driving continuous improvement in Business Analysis practice, including requirements management, process analysis, stakeholder engagement, business improvement and alignment with business architecture principles.
- Building strong relationships with Project Management, Business Architecture and PMO leads to ensure Business Analysis standards support wider C&T delivery disciplines.
- Promoting a consistent, professional and proportionate approach to Business Analysis across programmes, projects and smaller change initiatives.
- Acting as a visible advocate for the Business Analysis profession across C&T and the wider organisation.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be an experienced Business Analysis and people leader with a strong track record of developing individuals, building professional capability and improving analysis practice within complex change or transformation environments. You’ll combine supportive and inclusive leadership with sound judgement and a pragmatic, proportionate approach. Comfortable working across matrix structures, you’ll build credible relationships at all levels, provide constructive challenge and translate complex business challenges into clear, actionable outcomes. You’ll use evidence, feedback and delivery insight to help Business Analysts and the wider profession continuously improve.

Essential

- Significant experience leading Business Analysis activity within complex change, transformation or project delivery environments.
- Proven people leadership experience, with the ability to inspire, motivate and develop high-performing teams through a collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
- Strong coaching and mentoring capability, with the ability to adapt your approach to colleagues at different stages of their development and career journey.
- Strong understanding of Business Analysis disciplines, including requirements management, process analysis, stakeholder engagement, business process improvement and benefits-focused change.
- Experience establishing, implementing and continuously improving Business Analysis standards, methodologies, frameworks and ways of working.
- Experience building and leading professional communities that promote consistency, knowledge sharing and continuous professional development.
- The ability to provide guidance and constructive challenge on complex analysis activities, improving the quality, consistency and value of outputs.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and drive positive outcomes.
- Experience working across matrix structures to support resource deployment, capability development and succession planning.
- The ability to translate complex business challenges into clear, actionable outcomes.
- The ability to use performance trends, feedback and delivery insight to identify capability gaps and drive continuous improvement.

Desirable

- Experience developing or embedding AI-enabled Business Analysis practices within a change or transformation environment.
- Experience building and leading a professional community of practice across a complex or matrix organisation.
- Knowledge of business architecture principles and how they support effective change delivery.
- A relevant Business Analysis qualification or professional accreditation, such as BCS or equivalent.
- Experience within a financial services, pensions or investment environment.

Why is this role exciting now?

This is an opportunity to shape the future of the Business Analysis profession across C&T at a pivotal time. You’ll have the platform to develop talented Business Analysts, strengthen professional standards and influence the quality of analysis across a diverse portfolio of change. Rather than delivering one initiative, your impact will be seen across the Business Analysis community, helping create consistently strong capability, clearer analysis and better conditions for successful change.

What you’ll get in return

- A competitive salary (depending on experience) plus generous annual bonus plan

- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays

- We provide membership of the Railways Pension Scheme, a Defined Benefit arrangement under which you get a pension for life and a lump sum when you retire, based on your length of service and pay

- 4x Life Assurance cover

- We support hybrid and flexible working along with very generous family leave including 12 months full pay maternity leave and 6 months full pay paternity leave

- Take a look at the full range of benefits available to support you, click here (https://www.railpen.com/careers/#great-pension)

Next steps

If you’re excited by the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution and grow your career with us, we encourage you to apply by 8th October

Inclusion at Railpen

At Railpen, diversity, equity and inclusion are core to who we are.  We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported and able to thrive. Our mission to secure a better future for our members is strengthened by the different perspectives and experiences our people bring.

We are transparent about our gender pay gap and are actively committed to addressing it through fair and inclusive recruitment, progression and reward practices.

We respect and support individuals’ pronouns and encourage colleagues to share them if they feel comfortable to do so.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, neurodiversity, or any other protected characteristic. If you need adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know.